International award for Chichester beach

West Wittering beach during one of the hottest days on record in July 2013
Picture by Jane Rusbridge ENGSUS00120130807153941

Published:13:27Friday 20 May 2016

West Wittering beach has been recognised with an international award for excellence.

The popular part of Chichester area coastline was one of 16 in the South East to be awarded a ‘Blue Flag’ for water quality and beach management.

National Seaside Awards for quality and diversity also went to Bognor Regis East and Littlehampton Coastguards.

Southern Water aims to bring all bathing beaches it manages in the region up to Blue Flag standard by 2040.

Environment strategy manager for Southern Water, David Tyler, said: “We’ve been working really hard in recent years to play our part in helping to improve the bathing waters in our region. We have invested millions of pounds to reduce the impact of our wastewater network on bathing water quality.

He added: “We should be rightly proud of the recognition the quality of our beaches has achieved by receiving the Blue Flag Awards, and we must continue to work together to help make our beaches the very best that they can be.”

The Bathing Waters Enhancement Programme will see Southern Water work to find and fix sources of pollution preventing seven bathing waters in the region from achieving ‘excellent’ standard.

A specialist team from Southern Water shortlisted 21 bathing waters from the 83 across the region for further investigation.

Pollution can include contaminated rainwater running off roads and agricultural land, wastewater from privately-owned treatment works, boats and animals on the beach.

A spokesperson for Southern Water added that although the 700 miles of coastline have never been cleaner in recent times, standards are now twice as strict due to policy changes in 2015.

The full list of Blue Flag Award winners in the South East are:

Brighton Central

Hove Lawns

Tankerton

Marina St Leonards

Hayling Island Beachlands

Sheerness Beach

Minster Leas

Leysdown

Minnis Bay

West Bay

St Mildreds

Ramsgate Main Sands

Botany Bay

Joss Bay

Stone Bay

West Wittering Beach

The full list of Seaside Award winners in the South East are:

Bognor Regis East

Littlehampton Coastguards

Saltdean

Reculver

Herne Bay

Tankerton

Marina, St Leonards on Sea

Pelham Beach

Sandgate Beach

Leysdown Beach

Minster Leas

Sheerness Beach

Margate Main Sands

Westbrook Bay

Viking Bay, Broadstairs

Sandown

Shanklin

Seagrove

Springvale

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